Poisonous gas kills three

Irangika RANGE

Three people were killed and two others hospitalised when they inhaled poisonous gas emanating from a gem pit in Neelagamwatte, Kahawatta around 4.30 p.m. yesterday, a Police Spokesman for the Kahawatta Police told the Daily News.

Five labourers working in the gem pit were taken ill after they were exposed to the poisonous gas," he said. Three labourers who were critical died after admission to the Kahawatta Hospital. "Two others are recovering," he noted.

He said that the gem pit is very old and abandoned. The poisonous gas had affected them when they removed water from the pit using a kerosene oil operated water pump. "It is suspected this toxic gas had emanated through the smoke released by the engine," he explained.

"The postmortem will be conducted today," he added.